Light-diffuser for headlights.



- C. H. MUCKENHIRN.

LIGHT DIFFUSER FOR HEADLIGHTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. T. I9I8.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

CHARLES HQ MUCKENHIRN, 01F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LIGHT-DIFFUSER FOR HEADLIGHTS. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1'7, 1918.

Application filed March 7, 1918. Serial No. 221,019.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MUCKEN- HLRN, citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Light-Diffusers for Headlights, of which the following is a specification, reference being had the front or lens portion of a head light of glass, and whether plane or provided with projecting parts, there is a constant danger of breaking the same both because of vibrations or jars, and the binding action of the clamping means thereagainst, owing to the lack of capability of the glass to inherently yield.

it-h the foregoing in mind I form my front or diffusing device of a flexible material such as pyroxylin, celluloid, or a celluloid-like material which will be flexible throughout enabling the device to give or yield around its clamping marginal portion, and reinforcing th central portion of the body by what may be variously disposed projections or bulges which will also act as light dilfusing elements.

The device. will be inexpensive and of inconsequential weight, thus lending itself to the many uses for which it may be formed and where the supporting or mounting thereof before a lamp will not require material consideration.

Preferably the device is formed of two thicknesses superposed and securely fastened together so that one layer or thickness will additionally strengthen and support the other. all giving'an increased thickness or body to the whole, and also, in motor vehicle service, giving a backing to the layer or thickness used as the exposed front.

In some cases, where desirable for ornamental or color efi'ect the-layers may be different and for example, one layer may be perforated to permit of a variegated color effect, as differentiated from a solid color where but one layer is colored, or where both are colored and merge to combine to produce a third ultimate solid effect or color.

The details in construction and arrange ment of parts will be more apparent from the specific description hereinafter contained when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing my device applied to an ordinary automobile head light.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the device showing the layers before they are secured together as a unit.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respeetively'front and rear views of the bulged or reinforced layer of the device, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively front and vertical sectional views of another embodiment of the invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and for the present with reference to the first f our views, wherein like reference letters refer to the same parts in the several views, A represents an ordinary head light and B the lens clamping means thereof which may be of any well known type, not necessary to be particularly defined herein.

C represents the outer layer and D the inner layer of my improved lens or light diffusing device. the same being entirely fo rr..ed of a flexible material such as pyroxylm, celluloid or celluloid-like material. The

two layers are secured together, by appros,

priate cementitious material such as amylacetate, or otherwise, to constitute a firmly united whole or entity. The outer sheet or layer, in this instance intended to serve as the exposed outer face of the lamp is smooth so as to afford no obstruction for the accumulation of snow, dirt, or similar obscuring elements, but the inner 'layer is provided with a central bulge E and a series of, as here shown, radial elongated pear shaped bulges F extending entirely around the center and converging toward the center, to serve the double function of diffusing the light, and of strengthening the flexible relatively light and thin material. Other shapes and designs may, however, obviously be employed. These elongated pear shape bulges increase in depth toward the surrounding liio hulges, ta

marginal. portion G which is left smooth for engaging Within the clamping means the outer terminal portion of said bulges represented at H, rounding laterally in both ilireotions as Well as longitudinally.

The inner layer constitutes an efficient backing for the forward layer 1'30 resist inward henrling pressures or slrains and the outer tapering oi the bulged portions near the sevuring nmrginal portions e eitlererl in connection with the llexilile, yielclahle nafure thereof, will without breakage should clamping means or other obstructions Contact the some.

From (he foregoing it will be clear tho. in a simple an l highly inexpensive manne l have lJl fWliiCCl a hi? or light clill'uein QlGlllQlll', for head light eanolole of k S L .tzu'ilr ment in the uenal :inner and securing man advantages not p05 esefl by the standard or euehmiary inflexible fragile 5 and 6 the layers reversed. l represents ihe fro-niansl K lhe inner layer. The hnlges are here shown at L. The layers in c-iiher in fanee me. I he of the same color or of (lilierent FOlOl; in the rorni of 5 and 6 the layers being of (iilferent colors and the inner laym- K being cut away or a iertureih as M; ii'l opposite the hul es so that. the lamp rays in y ass directly to the lmlges l and the solid portions of the body oi" Suhl layer K imparting its color imlnenre lo (he layer in ailvznn'e thereof. iif from layer white the some will, he' lween liO the color of the hack layer and if the front ie of a tljill orent'. color from the hack the two colors will izoinn'iingle, as will he remliiy understood.

li'hile l have herein disclosed. two special lll'illfillllllllllfi of the inven I it will he llll(l l' l'( 'i(l by persons sliilled in the art ljo whirl) iho invonl'ion relates, that the invenlion is vapahle or emhmliinonl; in other Forms :lllll iiloi'iens as may he embraced e1 1. in (he sicope f i,

1e herefo appended e llhalx l: claim is: i. fl ljz' composed of eroni; ifor lin hle posed enihin's ho; l'ra Sfnarent slex'ihle man-rial nmmawnl memoir loge-flier, one

being plane and the other progmtions,

ightsi coinpoeerl of sunertogether R1 meal apari at their central poriion, by a light (lillusing portion formed on the face of one the members.

.fi fro-iii for lighl s composed. of superposed inen'ibere belch of transparent flexible material permanently eeureei together to constitute a single portable entity when detached, one of saicl layers being colored.

5. A front for lights compo-seal of superposed members or" transparent. flexible material, one of saicl layers being colored, and

i one of said layers being out for the purpose set lorigh. 7

(3. A front for lights composed. of superposed members of transparent flexible 1naiierial, one of said layers being colored, and one of said layers being both colored and apertureil.

T. A from; for lights composed. of super posed members of Transparent flexible inaieriul, one of said layers having light-diffusing projections, and the other bein colorei and out away opposite said projecrions.

S1. A front ior lights composed of superposed niemhers material permanently secured together to (conetiinnl'c :1 single portable entity when (leiavlieih sniil layers being dilierently colored relative in earh other.

in testimony whereof .l hereunto afiix my signimnre in, l'he presence of two Witnesses.

(ill Hill ,5 H. ll illillilfill 'l'iitnwws:

Jon. ii. lilimxs, (Luann: Lmmm hoth of transparent flexible 

